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A License To Drive Stoned

Michael Komorn

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Michael Komorn Advanced Member

Michael Komorn

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A license to drive stoned

 

Colorado legislators failed the public by not setting a limit on how much marijuana drivers can have in their systems.

 

 

 

By The Denver Post

 

Posted: 05/11/2011 01:00:00 AM MDT

 

 

 

A strange coalition of legislators shot down a well-vetted bill that would have set a legal limit on how much marijuana Colorado drivers could have in their systems.

 

 

 

What were they smoking?

 

 

 

The proposed 5 nanogram limit for THC, the psychoactive substance in marijuana, was recommended by a host of professionals, including defense lawyers, prosecutors and lawyers representing medical marijuana interests.

 

 

 

Yet, some legislators bought into the hype from the medical marijuana lobbyists pushing the narrative of "relative highness" — as in, some people can drive with THC levels exceeding 5 nanograms and you wouldn't even know it. Others say the research is inconclusive, which can apply to just about any research you don't want to believe.

 

 

 

A coalition of liberal Democrats and libertarian-leaning Republicans formed late Tuesday to kill House Bill 1261. They blew a chance to address not only the rights of medical marijuana patients but the overall safety of motorists.

 

 

 

It all adds up to making Colorado a more dangerous place to drive.

 

 

 

Let's look at what's happened in Colorado in the years since voters approved a medical marijuana constitutional amendment.

 

 

 

Incidents of drugged-driving fatalities have been increasing, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

 

 

 

While driving fatalities overall are going down, the number of those involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana use is going up.

 

 

 

In 2005, 23 drivers involved in fatal crashes had used marijuana. In 2009, that number was up to 37.

 

 

 

With the recent boom in medical marijuana cards floating around in Colorado — about 125,000 people have them now — does that really come as a surprise?

 

 

 

Listen, too, to the state toxicologist, who spoke to the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice last fall about marijuana impairment. Cindy Burbach told a commission task force that the best research shows impairment is found at the 2 nanogram level. A chronic user can compensate and function at higher levels, but still suffers the cognitive effects.

 

 

 

She also told them that 12 other states have established zero-tolerance levels for the presence of marijuana, which means if drivers have any in their system, they're busted.

 

 

 

The commission went with a liberal recommendation, the 5 nanogram level, which a handful of other states have adopted.

 

 

 

Despite the research and care that went into the 5 nanogram recommendation, a majority of state senators decided to ignore that and choose the side of marijuana users over the general public.

 

 

 

It is a dereliction of duty that is hard to understand, and we worry their failure to protect the public from stoned drivers could have substantial public safety consequences.

 

 

 

 

Michael A. Komorn

 

Attorney and Counselor

 

Law Office of Michael A. Komorn

 

3000 Town Center, Suite, 1800

 

Southfield, MI 48075

 

800-656-3557 (Toll Free)

 

248-351-2200 (Office)

 

248-357-2550 (Phone)

 

248-351-2211 (Fax)

 

Email: michael@komornlaw.com

 

Website: www.komornlaw.com

 

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If you have a medical marihuana question or comment, please email them to me, or leave them on the forum for the MMMA, and I will try to answer them live on the air.

 

 

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PLANET GREENTREES Call-in Number: (347) 326-9626

 

Call-in Number: (347) 326-9626

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treehugger Advanced Member

treehugger

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Oh, i see! We have 37 morons controlling the fates of the 124, 963 patients who are able to control themselves like responsible adults. (in the meantime, how many laws have been passed that abridge the rights of the 37 wallstreet billionaires who cost millions of people their homes and life savings?) Fear and lies to distract us from the real truths...

 

 

 

 

oops, forgot to use huge fonts to make me righter!

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Guest Happy Guy

Guest Happy Guy

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In 2005, 23 drivers involved in fatal crashes had used marijuana. In 2009, that number was up to 37.

 

And 178 were drinking alcohol in their fatal crash. What's the point? There's no proof what caused the accidents. Could have been texting for all we know. With the testing the way it is for cannabis, the 37 could have used cannabis any time in the week before the crash. The alcohol related ones were drinking right before their deadly crash. We know this because of proper testing for alcohol. To even get proper statistics to see if there actually is a problem with high driving, then we need the testing to be more scientifically accurate.

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